Irn-Bru Cup Semi Final

The New Saints 1

Dumbarton 2

Two second-half long-range efforts from Dumbarton has ended The New Saints' hopes of a quadruple as they lost in the Irn-Bru Cup semi-final at Park Hall.

TNS took the lead after half-time through Dean Ebbe but a fine effort from Danny Handling and a brilliant free-kick from another sub Dimitris Froxylias was enough to seal the win.

TNS came flying out of the blocks and should have taken the lead as early as the third minute but Aeron Edwards' s header from Simon Spender's cross rattled the crossbar.

Saints had plenty of possession but Dumbarton never allowed them to break as much as they promised in the early exchanges.

The Scottish visitors had settled well into their game plan of blocking Saints through the middle and headed into the break goalless.

The deadlock was broken on 52 minutes when Saints new boy Ebbe smashed home from close range after Ryan Brobbel's superb piece of skill and cross.

Brobbel managed to get David Smith one-on-one, skipping past him to cross and gave Irishman Ebbe his first goal at Park Hall and his third since signing on deadline day.

The Sons first sight on goal came on 67 minutes when substitute Liam Burt – one just two minutes earlier – couldn't quite direct his effort at Paul Harrison after TNS failed to clear.

Blaine Hudson thought he'd doubled Saints' lead on 72 minutes when he climbed to head home but Scott Gallacher pulled off a fine save; however, referee Neil Doyle had already blown for a foul.

Saints were left to rue what may have been as Dumbarton levelled when Handling shifted the ball onto his right foot and curled home into Harrison's left-hand corner, against the run of play.

And the Sons took the lead seven minutes from time as another sub Froxylias smashed home an unstoppable free-kick from 30 yards that swerved away from a stationary Harrison.

Tom Holland thought he had scored when Gallacher seemed to miss his 30-yard effort but the visiting keeper gathered at the second attempt.

He then made an outstanding save from Brobbel's driven effort moments later as TNS sought a goal to force extra-time before the whistle finally blew.

TNS: Harrison, Spender, Rawlinson, Hudson, Marriott, Routledge, Brobbel, Holland, Edwards (Kauber 87), Draper, Ebbe

Not Used: Jones A, Saunders, Pryce, Jones C, Craven